1.

How many trailing zeroes (zeroes at the end of the number) 

does 60! Have?[CAT 2016 SLOT 2] 
 
Ans. 14 
To start with, the number of trailing zeroes in the decimal representation 
of a number = highest power of 10 that can divide the number. 
For instance, 
3600 = 36 * 10​2 
45000 = 45 * 10​3 
In order to approach this question, let us first see the smallest factorial 
that ends in a zero. 
1! = 1 
2! = 2 
3! = 6 
4! = 24 
5! = 120 
Now, 5! ends in a zero as we have get a product of 10 when we compute 
1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5. 
 
10 is 2 * 5, so we get a factor of 10 every time we get a 2 and a 5 in the 
factorial. 
So, 5! has 1 zero. The factorial that ends with 2 zeroes is 10! 
15! has 3 zeroes. 
20! has 4 zeroes and so on. 
An extra zero is created every time a 2 and 5 combine. Every even 
number gives a two, while every fifth number gives us a 5. 
 
Now, the critical point here is that since every even number contributes 
at least a 2 to the factorial, 2 occurs way more frequently than 5. So, in 
order to find the highest power of 10 that can divide a number, we need 
to count the highest power of 5 that can divide that number. We do not 
need to count the number of 2’s in the system as there will be more than 
2’s than 5’s in any factorial. 
 
Now, every multiple of 5 will add a zero to the factorial. 1 * 2 * 3 *.......59 
* 60 has twelve multiples of 5. So, it looks like 60! will end in 12 zeroes. 
But we need to make one more adjustment here. 
 
25 is 5​2,​ so 25 alone will contribute two 5’s, and therefore add two 
zeroes to the system. Likewise, any multiple of 25 will contribute an 
additional zero. So, 60! will end with 12 + 2 zeros. = 14 zeros. 
 
 
2. What is the ratio of longest diagonal to the shortest diagonal 
in a regular octagon?[CAT 2018 SLOT 2] 
 
Ans. ​√2 : 1 
 

 
 
Consider regular octagon ABCDEFGH 
Its longest diagonal would be AE or BF or CG or DH. 
Let us try to find out AE. 
Join AD and draw BP ⊥ AD and CQ ⊥ AD. 
PQ = a 
AP = QD 
a​2​ = BP​2​ + AP​2​ => a​2​ = 2 AP​2​ {since BP=AP} 
a = √2AP => AP = a/(√2) 
AD =AP + PQ + QD = a/(√2) + a + a/(√2) 
=> a + a√2 
AE​2​ = AD​2​ + DE​2 
AE​2​ = (a + a√2) 2 + a​2 
AE​2​ = (a​2​ + 2 * a * √2 + 2a​2​) + a​2 
AE​2​ = a​2​ (1 + 2√2 + 2) + a​2 
=> a​2​ (4 + 2√2) 
Shortest diagonal = AC or CE 
AC​2​ = AB​2​ + BC​2​ – 2AB × BC cos135 degree 
(Alternatively, we can deduce this using AC​2​ = AQ​2​ + QC​2​. We use 
cosine rule just to get some practice on a different method.) 
= a​2​ + a​2​ – 2a​2​ * ((−1)/√2) 
= 2a​2​ + √2a​2 
= a​2​ (2 + √2) 
AE​2​ = a​2​ (4 + 2√2) 
AE​2/​ AC​2​ = a​2​ (4 + 2√2) / a​2​ (2 + 2√2) = 2 
AE / AC = √2 
Remember, for a regular octagon. 
Each internal angle = 135 degrees. 
Each external angle = 45 degrees. 
So, we get a bunch of squares and isosceles right–angled △s if we 
draw diagonals. 
A regular hexagon breaks into equilateral triangles. A regular octagon 
breaks into isosceles right angled triangles. 
 
 
3. Given that x​2018​ y​2017​ = 1/2 and x​2016​ y​2019​ = 8, the value of x​2​ + y​3 
is:[CAT 2018 SLOT 1] 
 
Ans. 33/4 
  
  
 
 
 
4.With rectangular axes of coordinates, the number of paths from (1,1)
to (8,10) via (4,6), where each step from any point (x, y) is either to (x,
y+1) or to (x+1, y), is:[CAT 2019 SLOT1]

Ans. 3920
dimension of rectangle with ends of diagonal being(1,1) and (4,6) =
3*5
thus number of paths from (1,1) to (4,6) = (5+3)!/5!3! =56
dimension of rectangle with ends of diagonal being(8,10) and (4,6) =
4*4
thus number of paths from (4,6) to (8,10) = (4+4)!/4!4! =70
so total number of paths from (1,1) to (8,10) via (4,6) = 56*70 =3920

 
 5. A page is torn from a novel. The sum of the remaining page 
numbers is 10000. What are the two page-numbers on the torn 
page of this novel?[CAT 2017 SLOT2] 
 
 
Ans. 76 and 77 or 5 and 6  
n(n+1)/2 
n(n+1)2 should be nearby 10,000, so n (n + 1) is somewhere near 
20,000. 
So n should be around √(20000) about 141. 
Try 142   
142∗143/2 = 10153 
141∗142/2 = 10011 
So, the missing pages are either 76 and 77 or 5 and 6. 
 
 
 
 
6. Anil grows tomatoes in his backyard which is in the shape of 
a square. Each tomato takes 1 cm​2​ in his backyard. This year, he 
has been able to grow 131 more tomatoes than last year. The 
shape of the backyard remained a square. How many tomatoes 
did Anil produce this year?[CAT 2014] 
 
 
Ans. ​4356 
Let the area of backyard be x​2​ this year and y​2​ last year 
∴ X​2​ - Y​2​ = 131 
=> (X+Y)*(X-Y) = 131 
Now, 131 is a prime number (a unique one too. Check out its properties 
on Google). Also, always identify the prime number given in a question. 
Might be helpful in cracking the solution. 
=> (X+Y)*(X-Y) = 131 x 1 
=> X+Y = 131 
X-Y = 1 
=> 2X = 132 => X = 66 
and Y = 65 
∴ Number of tomatoes produced this year = 66​2​ = 4356 
 
 
 
 
7. An alloy of copper and aluminum has 40% copper. An alloy of 
Copper and Zinc has Copper and Zinc in the ratio 2: 7. These 
two alloys are mixed in such a way that in the overall alloy, there 
is more aluminum than Zinc, and copper constitutes x% of this 
alloy. What is the range of values x can take?[CAT 2010] 
 
 
Ans. 3​ 2.25% ≤ x ≤ 40% 
 

 
 
 
 
 
8.Sonu started a new business with accounts in two different 
banks (i.e. Axis and SBI).He deposited the earnings of each day 
in either of the two banks. However he does not deposit his 
earnings in both the banks simultaneously on any given day. 
However somehow he could not carry the business for long and 
had to shut it down. Find the total no of days Sonu carried on 
the business if… 
 
 1) He did not deposited in axis bank on 20 days and in SBI on 24 
days. 
2) He deposited on either axis bank or SBI on 28 days.[CAT 
2019 SLOT 1] 
 
 
Ans. 36 
Let the total No. of days Sonu deposited the earnings in Axis bank be 
‘n(a)’ and 

that in SBI be ‘n(b)’ 

Now, 

Total no of days he carried on the business = n(a) + n(b) – n(a∩b) + Neither 

(Days he didn’t earned) 

Since on any given day he does not deposit in both the bank accounts 

n(a∩b) = 0 

Hence, 

Total no of days he carried on the business = n(a) + n(b) + Neither (Days he 
didn’t earned) 

Now, 

A/Q 

Total – n(a) = 20……………………………(1) 

Total – n(b) = 24……………………………(2) 

n(a) + n(b) = 28………………………………(3) 

 

Solving the 3 equations we get, 

n(a) = 16 

n(b) = 12 

Total = 36 

Hence the total number of days he carried on the business = 36 

 
 
 
9. The remainder when 29^29^29 is divided by 9 is:[CAT 2019 SLOT2] 
 
Ans. 2 
 
 
 
 
10.